Battery terminal connector



July 31, 1962 FIG 5 W. S. AUSHERMAN BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed April 12, 1961 so es INVENTOR. WILLIAM S. AUSHERMAN A T TORNE Y United States Patent 3,047,833 BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTGR William S. Ausherman, 3500 N. Topeka, Wichita, Kans. Filed Apr. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 102,605 9 Claims. ((ll. 339236) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in battery terminal connectors, and more particularly pertains to a device of such character of two-piece construction provided with cam means responsive to tightening of securing means to cause relative translation of the two parts such that they are moved radially toward the axis of a battery terminal or post disposed therebetween.

A primary aim is to provide a connector that will make a good mechanical and electrical connection to a battery cable on one hand and to the battery terminal on the other hand, with each of such connections being easily made or broken as may be necessary for cable or battery replacement.

An important object is to provide a connector in accordance with the above aim which will function when of a single size with various sized cables as well as with various sized battery terminals, especially the two most commonly used sizes of terminals on conventional storage batteries used in conjunction with electrical systems associated with internal combustion engines.

Ancillary aims and objects of the invention will be made evident during the following description of preferred embodiments thereof.

Broadly, a connector according to the invention comprises an electrically conductive body member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said body member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion, an electrically conductive clamp member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said clamp member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion thereof, securing means for forcibly urging said lugs toward each other, and cooperating cam means carried by the body member portion and the clamp member portion adjacent their respective second margins for moving said concave surface areas toward substantially direct opposition during operation of said securing means.

More specifically, the cam means according to the invention comprises said portions being provided adjacent their second margins respectively with an apertured ear and a finger, with the latter projecting through the aperture. Preferably the ear is on the body member portion, though in any event the finger presents a surface for sliding and carnming engagement with a side or edge of the ear defining a part of the periphery of the aperture in the latter.

One embodiment of the invention involves the concaved surface of at least one of the portions having differing radii of curvature.

The invention will be best understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of preferred embodiments thereof taken together with the forthcoming description thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric View of a connector according to the invention showing the same connected to a broken battery cable;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the clamp member forming a part of the connector shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the connector of FIG- URE 1 showing the same secured to a large size battery post, with certain hidden structural details being shown in dashed outline;

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FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, however, showing the connector clamped upon a smaller battery terminal than that shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the connector of FIGURE 1 from the cable end thereof, with'the cable removed; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top view of a modification of the clamp member shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the reference numeral 10 designates the connector generally. The connector It) is comprised of a body member 12 of integral construction, and a clamp member 14 also of integral construction. The members 12 and 14' are metallic, and preferably cast bronze machined, drilled and tapped to achieve the features hereinafter set forth in detail.

The body member 12 includes a portion 16 having a lug 18 at a first margin thereof and an ear 20 at a second margin thereof, with such portion 16 having a concave surface area 22 extending between the margins where the lug 18 and the car 20 are positioned.

The clamp member 14- includes a portion 24 with a lug 26 being provided at a first margin of the portion 24 and a finger 28 being provided at a second margin of the portion 24, with the portion 24 being provided with a concave surface area 34 extending between such margins. A finger 28 projects through an aperture 32 provided in the ear 2t Optionally, a cotter pin 34 extends through an opening 36 near the end of the finger 28 to prevent removal of the finger 28 from the aperture 32 and separation of the members 12 and 14*. V

The lugs 13 and 26 are provided with openings 38 and 40 to accommodate the shank of a square-headed bolt 42. The clamp member '14 is provided with a shoulder 44 that prevents rotation of the bolt 42 during the application of torque to a nut 46 threaded upon the bolt 42 by means of which the lugs 18 and 26 are urged toward each other. The bolt 42 and the nut 46 are preferably brass or bronze, though plated steel, if deemed necessary or desirable, will suffice. Preferably, the lugs 18 and 26 are generally parallel and it will become evident presently that this relationship is not disturbed during use of the connector notwithstanding different spacings of the lugs 18 and 26. For reasons also to become apparent shortly, there is an oblique motion of the lug 26 relative to the lug 18 as it approaches the latter, and accordingly the openings 38 and 40 are sized as shown to permit the bolt 42 to remain perpendicular to the lugs 18 and 26.

It will be evident upon inspection of FIGURE 3 that the concave surface areas 22 and 30 are conformable to a cylindrical surface such as the battery terminal or post 48 with respect to which the connector 10 is shown applied. The concaved surface area 22 can subtend an angle in the general neighborhood of 180, though it is preferred that the angle be somewhat in excess of 180, as shown. The concave surface area 30 subtends an angle in the general neighborhood of though it is preferred that the same subtend an angle as large as is feasible or compatible with the angle subtended by the area 22. It is to be expressly understood that although the surface areas 22 and 30 are shown as being conformable to a cylindrical surface, it is considered within the scope of this invention that either one or both of such surface areas can be conformable to a frustum of a cone inasmuch as battery terminals are sometimes tapered in configuration.

It will be noted on further inspection of FIGURE 3 that the ear 20 is offset so as to afford a spacing between the portion 24 of the clamp member 14 and the ear 20, whereby the clamp member 14 can be easily disengaged from the battery terminal 48 upon loosening of the nut 46. In fact, herein lies one of the principal advantages of the connector of this invention as the inherent flexibility of two-piece construction enables easier disengagement of the connector from the battery terminal or post 48. After loosening the nut 46, the clamp member 1acan be released by gentle tapping if necessary at all upon the ear 28 or the lug 26. Thereafter, the body member 12 can be freed by lifting and/or twisting accompanied by light tapping, if necessary at all. The ease of disengagement is also due to the fact that engagement of the connector 10 does not require any deformation of the parts of the connector 10' or deformation of the battery terminal to which it is clamped. The fact that the preferred construction involves the area 22 subtending an angle of more than 180 further facilitates separation of member 12 will be apparent. Also contributing to the ease of disengagement is the fact that during engagement of the connector 10 with a battery terminal or post, the relative movement of the clamp member 14 is such that the center of curvature of the area 30 moves substantially radially with respect to the center of curvature of the area 22, as will be seen presently. Such relative movement is conducive to a superior mechanical and electrical connection to a post, and does not contribute to deformation of either the connector or the terminal post as is likely to be occasioned when the relative movement of connector parts is pivotal in nature with consequent likelihood of difiiculty in separation of parts and damage to the battery terminal.

The previously mentioned relative motion between the members 12 and 14 during movement of the lugs 18 and 26 toward each other is a function of the cam means constituted of the structure of the ear and the finger 28. The finger 28 preferably is generally rectangular in cross section and has a side surface 50 that is in sliding and camming engagement with a surface 52 defining a portion of the periphery of the aperture 32. Recalling the desiderata previously stated with respect to the angles subtended by the surface areas 22 and an and the relative dimensions and geometries of the surface areas 22 and 30 shown in FIGURE 3, the camming surfaces 50 and 52 are inclined in order to effect the previously stated relative motion of the members 12 and 14 and particularly to cause the mid-points of the arcs defined by the surface areas 22 and 38* to move directly in opposition to each other. Obviously, the relative motion will be substantially as described with the structure shown in FIG- URE 3 as extension of the plane of the surface 50 of the finger 28 passes for all practical purposes through the centers of the arcs of the areas 22 and 30 as well as through the centers of curvatures of such areas 22 and 36.

FIGURE 4 can be compared to FIGURE 3 to show different relative positions of the clamp member 14 with respect to the body member 12 upon the lugs 26 and 13 being in closer proximity to each other. In FIGURE 4 the connector 10 is shown with the nut 46 tightened down sufficiently that the surfaces 22 and an engage a battery terminal 54 that is relatively small as compared to the battery terminal 48. Though it is preferred that as large an amount of surface area of the connector 11) engage a terminal post as possible, it has been found that the application of the connector 10 to a relatively small battery terminal such as shown at 54 is generally satisfactory mechanically and electrically for most practical uses.

The connector 10 is not only well suited for connection to a battery terminal, but also includes means for establishing a highly satisfactory connection both mechanically and electrically to the conductors of a battery cable. The means provided for this purpose comprises the body member 12 having an integral generally rectangularly shaped boss 56 having a generallyrectangularly shaped recess 53 therein that opens outwardly from the connector 10 from the portion 16, as shown. The boss 56 is provided with a lateral opening 60 communicating with the recess 58, with the wall thickness of the boss 56 being preferably built up adjacent the point of emergence of the opening 60 through the boss 56 as shown at 61 to reinforce the threaded engagement of a cap screw 62 threaded in the boss 56 through the opening 60'. It will be understood that a battery cable comprising stranded conductors 64 provided with insulation 66 has the insulation 66 stripped from the conductors 64 adjacent the end of the cable. The bare electrical conductors 64 are inserted into the open end of the recess 58 as far as possible and the cap screw 62 is then tightened to engage the electrical conductors 64 a short distance from their ends, to establish the excellent mechanical and electrical connection indicated in dashed outline in FIGURES 3 and 4. The cap screw 62 is preferably brass or bronze, though if desired the same can be plated steel. The connector 10 is suitable for connection to widely differing sizes of electric cables. When especially large cables are to be used, the cap screw 62 will simply be withdrawn farther than usual and the bared stranded conductors can be shaped for easy insertion into the rectangular confines of the recess 58 after which the cap screw 62 is tightened. Though not so shown, in use the cap screw 62 can be easily shortened by filing the end to such an extent that the head thereof will seat flush against the raised portion 61 of the boss 56 on proper engagement of the cap screw 62 with the conductors 64-.

A modified construction of the clamp member 14 of FIGURE 2 is shown in FIGURE 6 which may in some circumstances be deemed preferable to that of the member 14. The clamp member 70 shown in FIGURE 6 is therefore to be considered as a substitute in the connector 19 for the previously described clamp member 14, with all other portions of the connector 10 to remain unchanged and to be used therewith. The only difference between the clamp member 711 and the clamp member 14 resides in the concave surface area thereof. Whereas the clamp member 14 is provided with a single concave surface 30 having the same radius of curvature as the surface area 22, the clamp member 79 has two concave surface areas 72 and 74 that are spaced apart and which have the same center of curvature and the radius of curvature as that of body member 12 at 22. The areas 72 and 74 are separated by an intervening concave surface area 76, as shown, which has a radius of curvature less than that of the areas 72 and '74, for example, such as the radius of the battery terminal 54. Furthermore, the center of curvature of area 76, the center of curvature of the areas 72 and 74, and the center of the arc of area 76 lie substantially on a straight line. Again, the clamp member 70 is structurally identical to and of the same size as the clamp member 14 except to the extent specifically already mentioned, so as to be used in lieu of the clamp member 14. It will be noted that substitution of the clamp member 7%} for the clamp member 14 in the connector 10 will result in the clamp member having surface areas conformable to either of the terminals 48 or 54. It is considered within the scope of the present invention that an intermediate portion of the concace extent of the area 22 can have a lesser radius of curvature, and that this structural modification can be used in addition to or in lieu of the substitution of clamp member 71 for clamp member 14.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in considerable detail in order to convey a full and complete understanding of the principles involved, and any narrowness in the scope of the invention is not tobe imputed therefrom. Numerous variations in structure have been indicated and it is obvious that many others will immediately occur to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing detailed specification. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention must be ascertained upon reference to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A battery terminal connector comprising an electrically conductive body member that includes a portion having a concave surface area substantially coextensive with and extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said body member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion, an electrically conductive clamp member that includes a portion having an concave surface area substantially coextensive with and extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said clamp member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion thereof, securing means for forcibly urging said lugs toward each other, and cooperating cam means carried by the body member portion and the clamp member portion adjacent their respective second margins for moving said concave surface areas toward substantially direct opposition during operation of said securing means, said cam means comprising an car on the second margin of one of said portions that is offset and overlaps the second margin of the other portion, said ear being apertured, and a finger on the last-mentioned second margin slideable through the aperture.

2. A battery terminal connector comprising an electrically conductive body member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said body member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion, said body member including on the side thereof opposite the concave surface area an integral boss having a recess therein that opens outwardly in a direction extending from the concave surface area of said body member portion, said boss having an opening communicating laterally with the recess, a cable engaging element threaded in the boss through the opening adapted to engage a cable Within the recess, an electrically conductive clamp member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said clamp member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion thereof, securing means for forcibly urging said lugs toward each other, and cooperating cam means carried by the body member portion and the clamp member portion adjacent their respective second margins for moving said concave surface areas toward substantially direct opposition during operation of said securing means, said cam means comprising an car on the second margin of one of said portions that is offset and overlaps the second margin of the other portion, said car being apertured, and a finger on the last-mentioned second margin slideable through the aperture.

3. A battery terminal connector comprising an electrically conductive body member that includes a portion having a concave surface area substantially coextensive with and extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said body member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion, an electrically conductive clamp member that includes a portion having a concave surface area substantially coextensive with and extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said clamp member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion thereof, securing means for forcibly urging said lugs to ward each other, and cooperating cam means carried by the body member portion and the clamp member portion 6 adjacent their respective second margins for moving said concave surface areas toward substantially direct opposition during operation of said securing means, said cam means comprising an ear on the second margin of one of said portions having an aperture therethrough, and a finger on the second margin of the other of said portions extending through the aperture in the ear, with said car being offset and overlying the second margin of the other portion, and said finger being in slideable and in camming engagement with the ear.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein one of said concaved surface areas is in part conformable to a reference surface that is in turn circular in cross section along its axial extent, and wherein the other of said concaved surface areas is at least in part conformable to a second reference surface that is similar to the first-mentioned reference surface though of lesser radius.

5. A battery terminal connector comprising an electrically conductive body member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extending between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said body member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion, an electrically conductive clamp member that includes a portion having a concave surface area extening between first and second margins of such portion adapted to engage a battery terminal, said clamp member including an integral lug adjacent the first margin of said portion thereof, securing means for forcibly urging said lugs toward each other, and cooperating cam means carried by the body member portion and the clamp member portion adjacent their respective second margins for moving said concave surface areas toward substantially direct opposition during operation of said securing means, said cam means comprising an ear carried by the body member portion having an aperture therethrough, with the second margin of said clamp member portion being interposed between said ear and the first margin of the body member portion, and a finger on the clamp member portion extending through the aperture in the ear, said finger being in slideable and camming engagement with the ear.

6. The combination or" claim 5, wherein said lugs are substantially parallel, and said finger includes a camming surface inclined to the parallelism of the lugs.

7. The combination of claim 6, including said lugs having registering openings therethrough, said securing means comprising a bolt extending through the openings in the lugs, with at least one of said openings being larger than the bolt whereby the bolt is not canted during oblique translation of the clamp member caused by the cam means.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said bolt includes a polygonal head, and one of said members having a shoulder engageable with the head to prevent rotation of the bolt.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein at least one of said concaved surface areas includes a pair of areas conformable to a reference surface of one radius and an area intermediate said pair of areas that is conformable to a second reference surface of lesser radius.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

